{"id":51159,"date":"2025-04-30T08:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=51159"},"modified":"2025-04-30T08:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:00:03","slug":"otoole-screenwriter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/otoole-screenwriter\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Adolescence and Young Adulthood, One Episode at a Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Through shows like \u2018XO, Kitty,\u2019 screenwriter Jessica O\u2019Toole \u201994 relishes highlighting the \u2018inherent stakes and drama\u2019 of youth<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Melissa Newcomb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Growing up, Jessica O\u2019Toole \u201994 would write skits for her cousins to perform for the family during the holidays. Now, she works in Hollywood\u2014penning stories viewed by millions of fans worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm1890301\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">screenwriter and producer<\/a> for TV shows, O\u2019Toole has worked in the entertainment industry for more than two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most recently, she has served as the showrunner\u2014the lead writer, who also oversees the production\u2014for Netflix\u2019s \u201cXO, Kitty,\u201d a streaming spinoff from the <em>To All the Boys<\/em> films.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The romcom, which has been renewed for a third season, follows a young woman who moves to Seoul, South Korea, to attend school and reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, while discovering herself and navigating relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Jessica O'Toole on set with actors from the XO Kitty series, including Noah Centineo.\" class=\"wp-image-51184 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-1264x1580.jpeg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-632x790.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-316x395.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-280x350.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-140x175.jpeg 140w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-70x87.jpeg 70w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-400x500.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-200x250.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty-100x125.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/XO-Kitty.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption>O&#8217;Toole (far right) on the set of &#8220;XO, Kitty.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As a critic for <em>Screen Rant<\/em> observes, the show \u201cwears its heart on its sleeve and has an infectious energy that sucks you in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like \u201cXO, Kitty,\u201d many of O\u2019Toole\u2019s projects have explored the lives of teenagers and young adults\u2014intermingling drama, romance, comedy, and adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Toole penned 15 episodes of \u201cGreek,\u201d an ABC Family series that ran from 2007\u201311, chronicling a college freshman\u2019s efforts to shed his nerdy reputation by joining a fraternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"756\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A.jpg\" alt=\"Jessica O'Toole holds her young son Gus and smiles next to Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin.\" class=\"wp-image-51176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A.jpg 756w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-632x355.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/jane-the-virgin-A-100x56.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With son Gus and actor Gina Rodriguez, star of &#8220;Jane the Virgin.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She later wrote four episodes of the CW\u2019s \u201cThe Carrie Diaries\u201d; a prequel to HBO\u2019s megahit \u201cSex and the City,\u201d it depicts its protagonist as an adolescent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI love writing about teenagers, because there are so many inherent stakes and drama during that time of life,\u201d says O\u2019Toole, who\u2019s married to fellow alum Jess Mullen-Carey \u201994, BArch \u201995. \u201cEvery decision feels like the most important one you\u2019ll ever make.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I love writing about teenagers, because there are so many inherent stakes and drama during that time of life. Every decision feels like the most important one you\u2019ll ever make.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Toole was a writer and producer of the hit series \u201cJane the Virgin,\u201d the U.S. adaptation of a Venezuelan telenovela about a chaste young woman who\u2019s the mistaken recipient of artificial insemination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also helped create the 2018 reboot of \u201cCharmed,\u201d for which she wrote more than a half-dozen episodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The show, which ran for four seasons on the CW, follows three sisters who discover they\u2019re powerful witches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy favorite part is seeing my words come to life,\u201d O\u2019Toole says of screenwriting. \u201cI love being on the set and working with actors and directors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An English major in Arts &amp; Sciences, O\u2019Toole worked for women\u2019s magazines in NYC after graduation before moving to L.A. to pursue her dreams of writing for film and TV.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"957\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-1024x957.jpeg\" alt=\"Jessica O'Toole in her graduation cap and gown on campus with her husband Jess Mullen-Carey, also in gown.\" class=\"wp-image-51204 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-1024x957.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-300x280.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-768x718.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-632x591.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-316x295.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-400x374.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-200x187.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A-100x93.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Jessica-and-husband-A.jpeg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Celebrating Commencement with her future husband, Jess Mullen-Carey \u201994, BArch \u201995.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>She took a variety of odd jobs in the entertainment industry\u2014including one that involved cold-calling people, reciting movie synopses, and asking if the plot sounded like something they\u2019d want to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also dabbled in casting, on projects like finding criminal lookalikes for \u201cAmerica\u2019s Most Wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>My favorite part is seeing my words come to life. I love being on the set and working with actors and directors.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Toole was able to quit her day jobs after Universal bought her script about a college sorority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the project wasn\u2019t produced, she still describes the experience as \u201cwinning the lottery,\u201d given her industry\u2019s intense competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her first-ever screenwriting credit came on the 2006 comic film <em>Material Girls, <\/em>starring sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff and Oscar winner Anjelica Huston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Jessica O'Toole sits at a table with a microphone and name card in front of her with three cast members from the Charmed series at Comic Con in San Diego.\" class=\"wp-image-51175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Charmed-cast-A.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On a panel (at far left) at a fan convention with the cast of &#8220;Charmed.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Her career has since focused on TV, taking her to sets in NYC, Canada, South Korea, and elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou have to have thick skin in this career, but it has been so much fun and so rewarding,\u201d says O\u2019Toole. \u201cI\u2019m always pinching myself, because at one point, this felt like an impossible dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(<em>All photos provided.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Published April 30, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Through shows like \u2018XO, Kitty,\u2019 screenwriter Jessica O\u2019Toole \u201994 relishes highlighting the \u2018inherent stakes and drama\u2019 of youth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":51178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-51159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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